VOLUME 57 ISSUE 19 MAY 12, 2020 P47
over them, and you'll be on the ground very quickly
wondering what the hell happened.
Having said that, the 790 changes direction
quickly for something so big. Chris has taken
one half of the front brakes off—with the right-side
caliper and disc gone it saves about seven pounds
of unsprung weight, which adds a touch of nimble-
ness to the handling. You absolutely do not need
that extra caliper, as braking power and feel is
more than adequate for such a bike. If anything,
the brakes are slightly touchy, and if you over-ap-
ply the front Brembo RCS-15 master-cylinder and
M50 caliper in the tight stuff, it will force the front
end down quickly and, again, you'll wash out and
be on your head.
All these things aside, however, the Rottweiler
racer is remarkably easy to ride once you get used
to it. Having the power there from that big twin-
(Above) Vannieuwenhuise
(left) and bike builder
Parker get ready for
another Sonora stage.
(Left) In the tight, rocky
stuff, the Konflict-valved
suspension is marvelous.
